Appunti in tema di linee guida per l’investigazione criminologica sulla scena del delitto

The Authors herein propose some guidelines, for investigators, to be followed during the first intervention on a crime scene, not only from a strictly criminalist point of view, but also from a psychological and criminological point of view. Pointed out and analysed is the behaviour the investigative police officer must use, so as not to contaminate the methodological reading of the situation that has occurred. This is why so-called potential evidence can only be determined through valid research of the crime scene; this depends on the training, preparation and investigative know-how of the staff. Know-how must always be evaluated, since the human factor bears significant weight on the entire organisation of the investigation, particularly if one considers that crimes differ from each other and there are always issues that may deviate from the rules and cannot be resolved through prefixed patterns. Hence, only investigative know-how allows the case to be correctly confronted, since it offers investigators the certainty that the results shall be achieved, if time, effort and commitment are scrupulously applied to the research. One must not trust to improvisation and research may not be concluded, until all of the investigative possibilities have been examined.This article emphasises the importance of emotional control, since reactions that arise from viewing the origin of the violence may influence the investigators to the point of altering their judgement and resulting in confusion. Therefore it is necessary that all emotional influences be kept under control, if the research is to be objective and meaningful.